Queensland’s measures to support implementation of the Modern Homes standards

The Modern Homes standards have been implemented through a phased approach, with the:

  • Livable Housing Design Standards (LHDS)
  • Improved residential energy efficiency requirements.

These standards reflect community expectations that modern homes are comfortable, functional and adaptive to our changing needs.

Queensland has implemented the Modern Homes standards through:

QDC 4.1 and QDC 4.5 provide Queensland-specific variations and additional compliance pathways that support the practical application of the Modern Homes standards in Queensland while maintaining accessibility, adaptability and energy efficiency outcomes.

Livable housing design

The LHDS means new houses and units are designed with accessibility features, such as:

  • slightly wider doorways and corridors
  • one shower with step-free entry and an accessible toilet
  • reinforced bathroom and toilet walls to enable future installation of handrails.

These measures have a significant impact on householders as they move through the stages of life, whether it be young families, seniors, or someone with a permanent or temporary disability.

Queensland-specific compliance pathways

QDC 4.5 provides several compliance pathways and concessions available in Queensland, including:

  • a ramp-ready compliance option for elevated homes, allowing a compliant ramp to be installed when needed in the future
  • practical solutions for step-free entry, weatherproofing and termite management requirements
  • alternative compliance pathways for step-free access using relevant provisions of Australian Standard AS 1428.1
  • additional flexibility in bathroom design and layout
  • flexibility for the location of an accessible toilet where there is no habitable room on the entry level
  • a narrow-lot exemption for eligible houses until 30 September 2029.

These measures support practical and cost-effective compliance while maintaining accessibility outcomes. For more information, including eligibility requirements, refer to Guideline for Queensland Development Code MP 4.5: Livable dwellings and grading to floor wastes (PDF, 3064.12 KB).

Renovations, repairs and maintenance

QDC 4.5 clarifies that:

  • repairs and maintenance generally do not trigger compliance with current LHDS requirements
  • the building standards that apply to new building work will generally be the same standards that applied to the dwelling before the repair or maintenance work was undertaken (like-for-like).

Bathroom and toilet renovations are not required to include wall reinforcement where it is not reasonable or practical. For example, reinforcement is not required where wall framing is not exposed during renovation work.

Where the entry-level toilet exemption applies, an accessible toilet must be provided on the first level that contains a habitable room.

Grading to non-mandatory floor wastes

The National Construction Code (NCC 2022) requires floors in wet areas, such as bathrooms and laundries, to be graded to a floor waste where one is installed.

These requirements reduce the possibility of pooling on bathroom floors and can prevent water flowing out of wet areas and causing damage to the rest of the building.

Queensland-specific compliance pathways

QDC 4.5 provides alternative compliance options for grading to non-mandatory floor wastes, including:

  • using gradients provided in Australian Standard AS 3740:2021 Waterproofing of domestic wet areas
  • installing a linear strip drain or weir at each entrance to the room
  • ensuring water from a fixture cannot flow out of a wet area without first passing over a graded section of floor.

These options allow designers, builders and homeowners to select practical and cost-effective solutions suited to the particular wet area and building design.

Residential energy efficiency

The NCC 2022 residential energy efficiency requirements improve comfort in new homes, reduce energy use and support lower household energy costs.

Queensland-specific compliance pathways

QDC 4.1 includes Queensland-specific variations and additional compliance pathways that support the practical application of the residential energy efficiency requirements in Queensland while maintaining equivalent energy efficiency outcomes.

These include:

  • optional outdoor living area credits for eligible houses, townhouses and apartment buildings
  • a 5-star thermal performance pathway for eligible small homes of 50 square metres or less
  • a 6-star thermal performance pathway for eligible houses with raised floor construction
  • a Queensland-specific compliance pathway for houses in National Construction Code (NCC) climate zone 5 with a floor over an unenclosed space.

The outdoor living area credits recognise Queensland's climate and outdoor lifestyle. Credits are available across all Queensland NCC climate zones and can be used towards achieving the applicable energy equivalence requirements where the outdoor living area meets the requirements of QDC 4.1.

Renovations and additions

Queensland has developed the Modern Homes Standards – Home Renovation Guideline (PDF, 1893.3 KB) to help homeowners and industry understand how residential energy efficiency requirements apply to renovations, additions and relocated homes.

The guideline explains compliance pathways under QDC 4.1 and provides practical examples for common renovation projects.

Transitional arrangements and guidance material

Generally, new building work must comply with the building assessment provisions (standards) that applied when the building development application is approved.

However, section 37 of the Building Act 1975 enables a building certifier, in certain circumstances, to apply the previous building assessment provisions to the new building work. These circumstances include:

  • if lawful building work has started before the new building standard commences
  • a building development approval was given before a new building standard starts
  • a building development application is made before the new building standard starts, and the application is not decided before the amendment commences
  • demonstrated planning for carrying out the work started before a building assessment provision is amended and the building certifier for the building development approval certifies in writing that all the following conditions have been met:
    • substantial progress has been made on the design of the building, or the design was completed before the amendment
    • the design would need to be changed to comply with the amended provision
    • the changes needed are not minor changes, having regard to the amendment and the nature of the building work.

A supporting guideline (PDF, 241.36 KB) is available to assist building certifiers in applying this transitional provision.

A non-mandatory Building Form 77 Variation to building assessment provisions is available to assist building certifiers to document decisions made under section 37 of the Building Act 1975.

Additional resources

Livable housing design

Residential energy efficiency